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February 1st, 2019 Newsletter

Valley Oaks School

February 1st,2019 NewsletterValley Oaks School

Please Note:

Important dates are at the end of this newsletter.
Marissa Barredo by the Bright News! wall
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January's Bright News!

A unanimous decision by all staff members made 12th grader Marissa Barredo, our Bright News! student for December. Marissa was given a candy lei and her photo is now hanging on our Bright News! wall in Building #1. All staff created a Bright News! letter that was mailed to her family. We are proud of you, Marissa!


Students who have demonstrated academic excellence during the past month are discussed at staff meetings and one is chosen to be honored. Our Bright News! form letter is on our website.

Ian and Devin rolling large paper and Ms. Abelli-Amen with a swinging bad of dye
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Math 3 Lab

Juonior Michael Kofoid, and sophomores Devin Jones, and Ian Peracca do a weekly math lab together for Math 3. Michael was absent so their teacher, Ms. Abelli-Amen performed his role. This particular day's project was for the students to discover the shape of the sine curve and Periodic Function without these first being discussed and explained. A story was presented stating that "a nurse is walking down a corridor rolling a hanging bag of blue liquid and unknown to her, the bag has a small dripping leak and is swinging behind her as she steadily walks". The students made a model of this scenario and then brainstormed options to improve the model (to make it more periodic) and performed the improvements - successfully! See additional pictures HERE.
Althea pointing to her art work on the wall
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Art 2 Projects

Senior Althea Patchett loves art! She has been doing art with her artist grandmother for her whole life. Currently, Althea is taking Art 2 at Valley Oaks with Ms. Garcia. They are learning about Surrealism and in the photo top left is Althea's latest Surrealism piece. As described by Althea, the assignment was to "focus on a feeling instead of an idea of exactly what you want to draw." Althea explained it this way: "It's like looking at clouds and then seeing shapes." The most difficult part of art for Althea is working on getting the correct proportions of a face to make it realistic. Her favorite artist, one who really makes her think and feel things is Edward Munch who did The Scream. She went to a show of his at the Museum of Modern Art last year and was struck by the "cool, creepy pictures"! Please continue reading HERE .
Lucas Adelman's school photo
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First to Complete Community Service!

Congratulations to Lucas Adelman (pictured left) and to April Adelman! They are the first to complete their 5-hour community service requirement for this new semester! April volunteered as an usher at Cinnabar Theater, a non-profit organization. April, an actor in his spare time, said it was a lot of fun because everyone was very appreciative and he got to watch the show a couple of times. Lucas has been volunteering and continues to volunteer at Petaluma Community Access TV station. PCA TV is a non-profit that gives Petaluma residents a voice on cable TV. Lucas has advanced digital and media skills that they have gladly put to use. Thanks, April and Lucas, for finding meaningful opportunities and following through on them!


Please don't wait until May to start thinking about this requirement. Do yourself a favor and complete your 5 hours early. Remember that you have signed an Agreement that the course you are doing with your Assigned Teacher (for community service) cannot be closed until you give your Verification Form to them.

Henry Wilson carrying his boat
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Rowing Team - Henry Wilson, 9th grade

Freshman Henry Wilson has been with the North Bay Rowing Club for the past two years. Last year, as an 8th grader, Henry was on the Learning-to-Row Team, which prepares young athletes for the competitive high school team. This year, Henry will have opportunities to compete at the regional and national level.

What Henry particularly likes about his sport is that he "has a great team with nice people". He says he really enjoys the competitiveness. There are about 15 teens that make up his team. The most difficult part of rowing for Henry is getting his technique correct and that it is "extremely physically demanding".

(Please continue reading HERE - and see more photos!)

Jessica Rue Coulman in her team picture
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Varsity Lacrosse - Jessica Rue Coulman, 12th grade

Senior Jessica Rue Coulman has been playing lacrosse since 1st grade! She played with the Petaluma River Cats from 1st through 6th grade and then joined the High School lacrosse team when she was just a 7th grader! Lacrosse is in Jessica's DNA - in part thanks to her aunt who was the head coach for the Cal Berkeley lacrosse women's team. The best thing about being on the lacrosse team, says Jessica, is that "the team is like your family. You see your teammates every day and after games you go out together." On the nights before a game, the team has a fun "Carb Night" hosted at someone's house where they load up on pasta and pizza and get excited to win their game.

The most difficult part... continued HERE

Channing Matthews in her team picture
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Golf Team - Channing Matthews, 10th grade

Sophomore Channing Matthews, for the past year and a half, has been playing golf year-round. She is on the Petaluma Golf Team - a fall sport, and then she plays in tournaments for teen- agers. Her favorite thing about golfing is getting to be outside, walking in the fresh air, and going to different courses. The course she enjoys the most is her high school team's home course, Rooster Run. When it is not PHS's golf team season, Channing plays three times a week at Rooster Run and takes a weekly lesson there. The most difficult thing about golf for Channing is the pressure to concentrate and focus on hitting the ball - especially when a lot of people are watching. Once Channing lost her focus at the tee-off and the ball only went three feet! When it was her turn to take her second shot, she must have tripled her concentration because her ball went right in the hole - a Birdie!!

Please click HERE to read a few short segments from an Argus-Courier story.

Jacqueline Jones standing by the Bright News! wall
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January's Bright News!

Congratulations to 12th grader, Jacqueline Jones for earning our Valley Oaks Bright News! Letter for January!


Jacqueline was given a candy lei and her photo is now hanging on our Bright News! wall in Building #1. All staff created a Bright News! letter that was mailed to her family. We are proud of you, Jacqueline!


Students who have demonstrated academic excellence during the past month are discussed at staff meetings and one is chosen to be honored. Our Bright News! form letter is on our website.

professional portrait of senior, Charlene Campton
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Principal's Honor Roll

Congratulations to senior, Charlene Campton, who earned Principal's Honor Roll status for last semester!

Here is the list of all the students who made the Principal's Honor Roll and their GPA's for the fall semester:

Deborah Arango 4.0 (senior)

Justine Barnes 3.85 (grad)

Marissa Barredo 4.0 (senior)

Sophia Bauer 4.0 (sophomore)

Jacob Cafiero 4.0 (grad)

Charlene Campton 4.0 (senior)

Kelly Garcia 3.96 (senior)

Felipe Jimenez 3.83 (junior)

Ian Peracca 4.0 (sophomore)

Jade Polaski 3.89 (junior)

Jessica Rue Coulman 4.0 (senior)

Kristin Ward 4.0 (grad)

Lydia Williams 4.0 (senior)


Congratulations to all of our Principal's Honor Roll students!

Cece Illingworth standing in building #1 smiling
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Honor Roll

Congratulations to senior, Cece Illingworth, who earned a spot on the Honor Roll for last semester!

Here is the list of all the students who made the Honor Roll:

Abbi Grogan 3.68 (senior)

Cece Illingworth 3.19 (senior)

Michael Kofoid 3.41 (junior)

Michelle Mendoza 3.56 (senior)


Congratulations to all of our Honor Roll students!


To read the requirements for the Valley Oaks Honor Roll and Principal's Honor Roll, click HERE

As of this month and this semester, the new minimum GPA for Honor Roll is 3.5. It was 3.0. The new minimum GPA for Principal's Honor Roll is 3.9. It was 3.8.

Minimum GPA is not the only requirement for Honor Roll/Principal's Honor Roll.

Deborah Arango by the Bell Ringing props
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Many seniors are very close to graduating - Congratulations!!!

Soon-to-be Bell Ringer, senior Deborah Arango, is pictured here near the Bell Ringing Ceremony props. Deborah will be graduating almost a full semester early. A VOS Bell Ringing Ceremony is a fun option and an important way to mark-the-occasion for all graduates!


This is our list of students who are on the home stretch to finishing high school:
  1. Deborah Arango - just finished on 1/29!!!
  2. Preston Ashton
  3. Ethan Carbone
  4. Charlene Campton
  5. LoraLai DePriest
  6. Mikayla Galbraith
  7. Kelly Garcia
  8. Cece Illingworth
  9. Jacqueline Jones
  10. Michelle Mendoza - just finished on 1/29!!!
  11. Jessica Rue Coulman
  12. Lydia Williams - just a couple of weeks away or less!
  13. Jordan Zajonc
We look forward to doing our fun Bell Ringing Ceremony with these students! This is a voluntary 20-minute or so celebration with all the staff, the student, and whomever the student invites.
Devin Jones smiling in building #1
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University Bound: Devin Jones

Although sophomore Devin Jones says he is unsure about his exact college plans, he is "keeping all his doors open". More than thinking about a specific university, Devin is developing his career plans. His current plan is to have his own accounting business and be a Certified Public Accountant. Both he and his younger brother have always had excellent math skills. Devin wants to be in business with his brother. He feels that this is a very stable career field that will always be needed, and the independence of being his own boss, scheduling his own hours, and being in control of all decisions is very attractive to him. He is excited to possibly get an internship with family friends who have an accounting business - "it's good to get your foot in the door now", says Devin!
Ian Peracca at a computer
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University Bound: Ian Peracca

Sophomore Ian Peracca has been planning to attend U.C. Berkeley probably since before his freshman year. Ian took both Biology and Math 2 as a freshman which have given him a step up toward advanced math and science courses.
Marissa with school work
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University Bound: Marissa Barredo

Senior Marissa Barredo has been busy completing college applications. She has received acceptance letters from Channel Islands CSU and University Nevada Reno. She is still waiting to hear from San Diego State, Sacramento State, & Sonoma State. She is considering applying to Arizona State. Good Luck, Marissa!

Students working on a-g courses and setting-their-sights on a university directly after graduation co-enroll to achieve that goal.

  • 9th grader, Brenda Amador: studying for the SRJC Validation Examination for Spanish 1 - (an option for students to earn the college credits without taking the semester-long course!)
  • 10th grader, Ian Peracca: Spanish 1 at the JC
  • 10th graders Kailey Kroyer and Teja Burgess: Honors Math 3 at Casa.
  • 10th grader Kailey Kroyer: Spanish 2 through BYU (BYU has online high school courses)
  • 9th grader, Nicholas Barajas: Spanish 1 at PHS
  • 10th grader Devin Jones: last semester did Sign Language at the JC, and this semester is taking Financial Accounting
  • 10th grader, Jayley Jackson: college prep choir at PHS
  • 11th grader, Jade Polaski: French 1 at the JC
  • 11th grader, Paige Williams: Chemistry at PHS
  • 12th grader, Marissa Barredo: Chemistry and Pre-Calculus at the JC
Julia Sherman at 2018 graduation
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U.C. Davis: Julia Sherman

Here at her 2018 graduation ceremony at Lucchesi, Julia Sherman had big plans underway. She spent a semester doing a science internship in Costa Rica and then worked for the Spring semester back in town. After her one year deferred enrollment, Julia is now a freshman at U.C. Davis. During her 4 years at Valley Oaks, Julia worked at the Petaluma Market and co-enrolled at SRJC in Spanish 1 and 2 and in Environmental Studies and in a lab science Geology course.
Nick Matteri at 2018 graduation
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University North Dakota: Nick Matteri

Nick Matteri is also pictured here at his 2018 graduation ceremony. While a senior at Valley Oaks, he commuted to the Santa Rosa airport for classes and earned his pilot license. He will earn a Bachelors Degree in Commercial Aviation from UND. He decided against the other top school for this degree, Embry-Riddle, since UND will be half the cost and Nick has friends at UND from the Santa Rosa flight school. Nick spent all 4 years of high school at Valley Oaks.
Ben Hoffman by the school sign
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Cal Poly: Ben Hoffman

Ben Hoffman was a VOS student from 7th through 12th grade and graduated in June of 2016. He chose the "combo" route through Valley Oaks and went to the JC. He is currently at SRJC in an engineering pathway. After this year at the JC he plans to transfer to Cal Poly’s Material Sciences department. His passion is to have a career where he can address the issues of climate change.

Consider making an appointment to meet with our College and Career School Counselor, Mr. Jamerson.

Each week there are various times blocked off on his calendar for Valley Oaks students and/or parents interested in meeting with him.

To schedule an appointment with Mr. Jamerson, simply click on this link HERE to access his calendar which has all of his available appointment times.

a student from another PCS school with her Innovative Showcase project
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An Excellent Opportunity for all PCS Students...

Come join us for the Innovations Showcase! This is an opportunity for all PCS students, from TK all the way to 12th grade, to display their work to the community and share what their interests and talents are. In previous years, student projects have included photography, coding, ink drawing, robotics, dance, music and so much more. The sky really is the limit at the Innovations Showcase!


The Innovations Showcase will be held on February 28th, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. in the Petaluma Community Center located at Lucchesi Park. The registration deadline is February 15th, 2019. VIP Guests will be attending to interview the students about their projects and presenting them with certificates. We hope to see you there!


Registration and more information can be found on the district website: https://www.petalumacityschools.org/innovations

screenshot of the September newsletter
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You can always view past newsletters which are posted on our school website.

click HERE

IMPORTANT Valley Oaks dates for February:

All Month: By the end of the month, each student needs to present to one of their teachers

during one of their appointments, the progress they

have made on their Digital Portfolio.


(All students and one or more family member are required to attend

Open House Night which is on May 9, from 6pm-7pm. During this

event, students will present their final drafts of their Digital Portfolios

to their family member. Students can find the instructions for this

assignment on our school website.)



February through Mid-March: If you are in 7th or 9th grade, Mrs. Parker will be contacting you

to schedule a time to complete the California Physical Fitness test

with her before Mid-March. It takes about 20 minutes

or less to do the mile run and then another 20 minutes

to complete the other 5 tests: shoulder stretch, sit and reach, push ups,

curl ups, and trunk lift. Go to this link HERE to find short videos for each

of the 6 components of the test.

2/8/19, Friday: Group #1's P.E. Group Work Out, 2:30 - 4pm (rain or shine)


2/11/19, Monday: Holiday in honor of Lincoln.; School is closed.


2/18/19, Monday: Holiday in honor of Washington; School is closed.


2/22/19, Friday: Group #2's P.E. Group Work Out, 2:30 - 4pm (rain or shine)


Our Valley Oaks School website has the important dates for the entire school year.